Sunday, December 6, 2015

I
have always had a bit of an eclectic taste in music and that is even more so
when it comes to Christmas music. I've never been a big fan of the choral or
old traditional hymn versions of songs. For the most part, I prefer fairly
mellow, easy listening holiday music with a generous dose of more modern
standards that have been made popular by performers of the last 75 years. Like
other music genres, there are certain singers and songs I avoid like the
plague. There are also artists that I truly love!

Over
the last few years, I've made a point of listening to a fair bit of seasonal
music - and made lists of artists and songs that I liked. I thought I'd end up
with enough to burn a couple of CD's but I was wrong! Turns out, that I liked
more than I thought I did! I had enough for 7 CD's!

The
next decision was to figure out the best way to truly enjoy the music of the
holiday season. Luckily, I had a few options. The speakers on my desktop
computer have very good sound so I could just put the playlist on shuffle. I
could also transfer the list to my mp3 player. However, I chose to burn the
entire collection to a Data CD. Pretty much any computer with a disk drive can
play a data CD. Some DVD and CD players will also recognize the format. Last
year, I treated myself to a Bose Wave III which, as most people know, has
EXCELENT sound! Bose systems also recognize Data CD's!

This
collection has a bit of everything! Instrumentals, groups, male and female
artists. There is easy listening, pop, light rock, country, jazz, folk, swing,
big band and a bit of blues. There are a few quirky or off the beaten track
tunes that you may never have heard before. I've no doubt, you'll recognize
most of the titles but not necessarily the versions I've chosen. Some are full of
joy and others are a bit melancholy. Some are very mellow and some are quite
upbeat - but they all blend together to create great background music for a
gathering where you can actually talk to other people without shouting over the
music! The collection is 151 songs from just over 70 artists and almost 8 hours
long so more than enough to last for most gatherings. Yes, there are more than
one version of certain songs but I felt they were different enough in style.
Okay, I admit it - I just couldn't decide which version I liked best for some
but I limited it to a max of three versions of any one song.

My
taste in holiday music may not be the norm this time of year but the list below
(alphabetical by title) is me - unique and eclectic!

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last
week or so, you've no doubt heard that Starbucks new holiday cup for the 2015
season seems to be going over like a lump of coal. In the past, the coffee
giant has offered a variety of designs to celebrate the festive season. This
year, the design is a simple red cup with the chain's logo on it. No
snowflakes, snowmen, trees or other holiday symbols.

For the record, I don't even drink coffee and can almost
count on one hand the number of times I've even splurged or been treated to one
of Starbucks other overpriced beverages. Truth is, I rarely go to "coffee
shops" of any kind. I have more important, life sustaining things to spend
my limited finances on. That being said, I know a number of people who make an
almost daily pilgrimage to a Starbucks or a Tim Horton's for their java fix.

The loudest outcry against the simple design that Starbucks
has introduced seems to be coming from those who are devout Christians. For
some reason, they feel that this is corporate America and political correctness
trying to ban their holiday traditions and religious freedoms.

Despite what many of the "offended" want to
believe - let alone acknowledge - is that there is more than one religion and a
number of those religions also have major celebrations that often overlap with
the Christian observance of Christmas.

Regardless of your religious beliefs - or lack thereof -
the holiday season is supposed to be about love, peace and giving. Yet, many Christians have chosen to get their
knickers in a knot over an apparent blocking of their religious beliefs. Even
some Christmas traditionalists are crying foul over the lack of symbolism. People
are screaming from the top of their lungs - and their social media pages -
about the supposed slap in the face from Starbucks for removing "holiday
symbols" from their coffee cups. They've deemed this a "War On
Christmas".

Really?

Here's the deal people. IF you can afford the beverages
at Starbucks you are better off financially than many people in this world. If
you are offended that Starbucks is now offering a simple red cup that doesn't
acknowledge your specific holiday beliefs and traditions then you need to
find a way to be more accepting and tolerant of other religions and beliefs.
Despite what you may want to believe, this time of year is a celebration for
many religions. It ISN'T all about you and your beliefs.

Not to mention, that a red cup from a mega corporation
that doesn't feature "your" particular holiday themes is a pretty
minor thing to complain about in the grand scheme of life!

There are millions of people in this world who are
homeless. Millions who are risking their lives fleeing from war torn countries.
Millions who don't even have clean, safe water to drink.

I highly doubt that many of them would gripe about the
type of cup their beverage was served in. They'd more likely just be grateful
for the beverage within,

Expressing your religious views through your own
decorations is entirely within your rights. Implying that your personal beliefs
are more important than others is just selfish and inconsiderate.

Complaining because a company chooses to be more
inclusive and tolerant of other peoples beliefs than what you are willing to
acknowledge is just plain ignorant and intolerant on your part.

Luckily, for the majority of (Starbucks) complainers, you
live in countries with countless options of where to get your beverages. If you
want your overpriced beverages in a holiday themed cup then buy a thermal or
reusable cup with the symbols on it and - if you must - parade it in front of
all those who choose to be more tolerant and accepting of other peoples beliefs
or those who have other beliefs.

Then, try taking a careful step down from your pious
perch and think about just how truly fortunate you are.

You have to make a choice. The taste of your beverage or
how it is served. You have choices in beverages, where to obtain them and how
they are served to you.

If you still feel the need to complain then perhaps you
could try a different approach.

Buy your coffee somewhere else. There are any number of other
places to buy your pricy drinks. Though not as pricy or as diverse in choices
and varieties, you could buy a beverage at Dunkin' Donuts as they have
introduced a holiday themed cup for this season with the word "Joy"
on it.

What's that? Dunkin' isn't up to your standards? Then why
not skip the big chains and support a local coffee shop? Some of those
independent or local chains serve some rather fancy brews. Not to mention that
supporting small businesses is good for the local economy.

Better yet, make it at home and carry a more
environmentally friendly thermal mug. With all the varieties of coffees and
coffee makers on the market, surely there must be at least one that could help
sustain your caffeine fix!

Purchasing your beverages at another business or making
it at home probably won't make a big difference to Starbucks bank account.
However, the money you save will add up and can - no, should be used to help
others less fortunate than yourself.

The money you save can be donated to a homeless shelter, a
food bank, a toy drive for under privileged kids or any number of other worthy
charities. No doubt they would be truly grateful to accept your donations.

BTW, your coffee cup protest may also create a side
benefit! By not purchasing those expensive blends you may also cut back on a
few calories! A regular cup of coffee - even with a bit of cream and sugar
isn't nearly as high in calories as the specialty concoctions! That is,
assuming you can also resist all the donuts, muffins, shortbread and other
holiday treats that are often served alongside those beverages! A refillable bottle
of water and some fresh fruit would save even more money and calories but that
would probably be asking most of you for too much saving and giving!

As I said, the choice of how and where to obtain your
beverages is up to you.

Personally, I don't believe there is a war on Christmas.

Declaring a war on anything is NOT the answer.

I believe that we need to find ways to work together. We
need to find ways to bring cultures and religions together without killing each
other in the process. We need to make a conscious effort to learn about other people's
beliefs and cultures. We need to find ways to be more tolerant of our
differences and more accepting of those who don't have the same beliefs.

Respect, understanding, acceptance, inclusiveness,
tolerance and love should be our goals. It is the only way we will ever bring
peace to this sorely troubled world.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

According to the calendar, we are almost halfway through
Autumn but you'd never know it by looking at the trees around here!

Mother Nature rarely cuts us Canadian prairie folk a
break when it comes to the fall beauty! I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but
it always seems that those in Eastern Canada and the North-Eastern United
States get a longer more spectacular show of Autumn foliage I've made no secret that Autumn is my
favourite season but the picturesque beauty of it is far too short! Here on the
Canadian prairies, we are lucky if the leaves stay on the trees more than a
couple weeks after they start turning!

It just doesn't seem fair - especially when you consider
how long and harsh our winters can be. There really should be a law that Mother
Nature is not allowed to throw heavy rains or strong winds while the leaves are
in full on fall glory!

Oh well, I guess that is supposed to make us more
grateful for the fleeting beauty of the season - and for me it does! When the
leaves are at their most colourful, I set aside almost anything else that needs
doing to go out and enjoy as much of it as I can! Even when I am home, I find
myself looking out the window just to admire the colourful treetops of my
neighbourhood!

I took several walks this Autumn as well as enjoying my
apartment view! I'd like to share some of these views with you today.

This year, the leaves were just starting to turn in mid
September, but there was a bit more colour by the end of the month. On
September 25, I took a walk in Assiniboine Park.

Over the next week or so there were afew nights with a bit of frost and the leaves
were in full out beauty by early October! Alas, they were also starting to
fall!

I took a walk out Wellington Crescent to Munson Park on
October 2.

Sunrises, are always a bit out of view from my apartment, but there are mornings that the reflective light is just too lovely not to take some pictures! This seems to be especially true in Autumn!

On October 9, one of my gal pals and I took a walk
through Assiniboine Forrest. Despite living in Winnipeg for many years, neither
of us had ever been there before! It was a cool, partly cloudy morning but we
thoroughly enjoyed the crisp air and the spectacular beauty of the urban
forest!There are numerous trails
through the forest, with a few markers along the various paths. Intersecting
paths are marked with maps, but there are also a few small painted markers on
tree branches to tell you which path you are on. Our walk was mostly on the
pink and green trails, though the light blue and yellow do align with them in
places.

Then came a major rainy, windy Thanksgiving Monday (October
12) and it was all but over for the majority of the colourful leaves. Soggy
leaves covered the ground and nearly naked trees were everywhere!

Such is the nature of the changing seasons here on the
prairies! So, I enjoy the beauty while it is here. When the outside weather
isn't cooperating or the beauty is past, I focus on preparing for the coming
months. Thanks to above normal temps, I managed to hold off on many of those
fall chores till after Thanksgiving. Since then, I've switched out the down
blanket for the down duvet on my bed. The summer clothes have been moved to the
back of the closet. Summer jackets have been packed away and the heavier ones
now hang by the front door. Gloves, scarves and even the boots are at the
ready, but hopefully won't be needed for a while yet. The freezer has been
defrosted and an inventory taken of it and the pantry. There have been numerous
errands and shopping trips to restock the pantry and freezer for the winter
months. I've also been gathering my supplies for holiday baking which will be started
in the next few days.

Time moves all too fast come September. One day the
leaves are green and we are still in summer clothes. In what seems like a
heartbeat the leaves have turned and are falling to the ground. The weather
gets nippier, the days get shorter and we pull out the heavier clothing and
turn on the heat. We pull out our cookbooks and turn on our stoves to fill our
homes with the scents of the bountiful harvest.

It is now the beginning of November. The clocks have been set back an hour and we have entered
that sometimes bleak inbetween season. For some, there is the anticipation of
outdoor winter activities, but for many of us there is the sense of impending partial
hibernation and indoor activities.

To each their own.

For me, I will treasure the beauty that was - no matter
how short. I will enjoy the pictures and the memories of times shared. In the
coming weeks there will be plenty of holiday baking to keep me busy. There will
always be recipes to play with. There are books to be read. Movies and videos to
be watched. Writing to be done. Winter's naps to be savoured.

Thank you Mother Nature for the fleeting beauty that is
our prairie autumn.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Apples are in great supply come autumn. I'll gladly
eat apples any time of the year, but I also love finding and creating recipes with apples!

Today, I thought I'd share a cake recipe that is
perfect for fall or any time you want a delicious treat!

A month or so ago, I had some apples that needed to
be used up, so I went looking for an apple cake recipe. Of course, a Google
search showed that there are an endless number of variations to choose from! I
read through at least 30 recipes before narrowing it down to an apple spice
cake.

I found a recipe on All Recipes for an Apple Spice Cake that intrigued me. The directions indicated that you were to combine the
baking soda with warm water and add to liquid ingredients rather than the
traditional method of adding the baking soda to the dry ingredients. I read
through many of the comments and also did some research into the reasoning for
this, but was unable to determine a definitive answer. None of my baker friends
had ever heard of this method either.

Well, the first time I made the cake, I followed
that step - as well as making some other ingredient changes and the cake was DELISH! However, I also wanted to
see if it really mattered that you
add the baking soda with the water to the liquids. The second time I made the
cake, I added the baking soda in the traditional way and found no difference in
the end result. Therefore, I have eliminated the extra step for this recipe.

So, what else did I do differently?

- Rather than using all white flour, I did a 50/50 mix
of all purpose and whole wheat flour.

- A bit of nutmeg was added to the spice
combination.

- The all white sugar was replaced by a 50/50 mix of
white and golden (light brown) sugars

- I switched out most of the margarine in favour of
a combination of peanut butter and a just bit of margarine.

- Instead of the water that went with the baking
soda in the original recipe, I chose to add some milk - and upped the quantity
a bit to make the batter a bit less stiff and more moist in the finished cake.

- Raisins were omitted and roasted peanuts were
added.

- Naturally, I added chocolate chips!

- I also chose to omit sprinkling icing sugar on the
finished cake. The cake is sweet enough without any type of garnish or
frosting.

In the end, I turned a basic Apple Spice Cake into a
Peanut Butter, Apple Spice Cake WITH Chocolate Chips! After all, apples, peanut
butter and chocolate make an amazing taste combination that is REALLY
hard to resist!!

My taste testers loved this and said I could make
this for them ANYTIME!!

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a Bundt pan with a non
stick spray such as Pam. Set aside..

Whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
Set aside.

Peel, core and chop the apples. You should have between 2 and 2 1/4 cups when
finished.

Combine the peanuts, chocolate chips and chopped apple. Set aside.

Cream together margarine, peanut butter and sugars.
Mix in eggs, milk and vanilla.

Stir in all but about 2 Tablespoons of the flour mixture
into the margarine/sugars/eggs mixture, mixing to combine thoroughly. Batter
will be quite thick.

Add the remaining 2 Tablespoons flour mixture to the
apples/peanuts/chips mixture and stir just to coat. (This will help prevent clumping
of these ingredients.) Add the mixture to the batter and stir until well
blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick test comes out
clean (With my oven it took about 65 minutes). Cool in the pan on a wire rack
for about 20 minutes then carefully turn the cake onto plate. Continue to cool
the cake (on the plate) on a wire rack till cooled.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

September has arrived and summer is quickly drawing to a
close. We've had some insanely hot and humid days (and nights!)here in Winnipeg. We've had
some torrential like rainfalls. We've had hazy skies. We've had days that were
cooler than normal and days that were right on seasonal norms. In other words,
this summer had a bit of almost everything!

As someone who doesn't like the heat, I'm happy to see the hot and humid days leave but with
the end of summer weather, it also means that my direct window views of the
sunsets are quickly drawing to a close for another year.

On July 19, I shared a number of collages of the
beautiful sky views that I see from my window. Today, I've decided to share
even more of my gorgeous summer view!

There has been ominous looking skies, stormy weather, a
bit of lightening, haze, more spectacular sunsets and I even managed to catch a
colourful sunrise,

Here then, is a collection of photos from the last 7 weeks!

I didn't do the greatest job of stitching these two pics together but the clouds were very dark. Thankfully, this didn't turn out to be as bad as it looked:

We did get some stormy weather including heavy rains

Lightening is NOT easy to capture in a single pic, but I did manage to do it a couple of times!

There has been more haze from forest fires to the north and the west

One morning, I was actually awake early enough and coherent enough to even grab the camera for a couple pics of the sunrise!

But, as always, my favourites are the spectacular sunsets!

This was an evening that I just had to do two versions of. One from a distance and one with zoom.

This is another one that I did two versions of. One from a distance and one with zoom.

One more that I just had to do two versions of. One from a distance and one with zoom

As you can no doubt tell, I LOVE my summer views! I hope your summer views have also been spectacular!dn

About Me

I was born in the late 50's and raised on a prairie farm. I've lived in Winnipeg since 1984. I have always had low vision but have been legally blind since 1990.
I have a wickedly warped sense of humour and love to laugh.
My interests include; music, baking, cooking, mysteries and much more.
You will learn more about me as you read the posts.